Supporting Hurricane Irma and Maria Relief Efforts

Just a month ago, we posted some ways to support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Now, we’re back to talk about Hurricanes Irma and Maria relief efforts.

Watching the news about the destruction can leave people feeling helpless. This article, posted by a variety of news websites across the country, remains timely for Irma and Maria donations. PCSMoves has compiled a list of legitimate organizations, which are responding to Hurricane Irma and providing relief.

Hurricane Irma Relief

When Irma made landfall in Florida on Cudjoe Key on Saturday, Sept. 10, it did so as a Category 3 hurricane. The death toll in Florida was 58 people. For just Florida and its residents so far, it’s estimated that 32 state agencies reported spending more than $273,522,000 in preparations and recovery efforts.

The American Red Cross

A week after landfall, the American Red Cross is part of a large team of partners that have launched a massive relief response to provide safe shelter, food and comfort to people who have been affected by Irma. Red Cross caseworkers are meeting with people still in shelters to help get some normalcy back in their lives by identifying their needs and connecting them to services and resources to help begin their recovery.

Donations can be made through their website, with a minimum $10 online donation. Donations can also be made over the phone, by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army has activated all of its U.S. and Canadian emergency disaster response assets, in an unprecedented response to the succession of hurricanes that have wrought devastation across the Caribbean and the southern U.S.: Harvey, Irma, Katia, and Maria. These units can provide food, shelter and emotional and spiritual care to those impacted by this ongoing devastating weather event.

Donations can be made through their website. $25 is the minimum online donation. To see how your donations are being put to use in the field, the organization provides disaster updates as well.

Hurricane Irma Relief Fund

This fund, part of Global Giving, will provide relief to survivors in the form of emergency supplies like food, water, and medicine in addition to longer-term recovery assistance to help residents recover and rebuild.

Donations can be made through their website. All donations to this fund will exclusively support any necessary relief and recovery efforts from this storm in the U.S. and the Caribbean.

Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida

The Harry Chapin Food Bank, Feeding America, Feeding Florida, and other disaster responder organizations continue to work closely to respond to Irma’s aftermath. Together, they are identifying and meeting the needs across affected areas.

The American Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

The ASPCA is assisting in recovery efforts for the animals impacted by Irma, by establishing an emergency shelter in South Carolina, so animal shelters in hard-hit areas can accept displaced pets. They’re also working to distribute needed supplies to emergency shelters and local animal shelters all across Florida.

Hurricane Maria Relief

When Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on Saturday, Sept. 20, it did so as a Category 4 hurricane. The official death toll there is reported as 16, but there have been dozens of additional hurricane-related deaths so the toll could rise into the hundreds. The island is without power and may not have electricity for months.

UNICEF USA

UNICEF USA is mobilizing to get immediate, critical support in the forms of Emergency Relief Kits, to the children of Puerto Rico.

A donation of just $28 will provide a kit containing basic, essential supplies such as water purification tablets, a water bucket with lid, water containers, soap, toothpaste, detergent, and sanitary pads. The supplies will help children and their families keep clean and healthy, protecting them from diseases that can occur after the loss of equipment and infrastructure and the disruption of a safe water supply.

Puerto Rico & Caribbean Hurricane Relief Fund

This fund, a part of Global Giving, will provide relief to survivors in the form of emergency supplies like food, water, and medicine in addition to longer-term recovery assistance to help residents recover and rebuild. All donations to this fund will exclusively support any necessary hurricane relief and recovery efforts in the Caribbean.

The Ricky Martin Foundation

The Ricky Martin Foundation team is already working with the local government, local volunteers and the First Lady of Puerto Rico, to provide urgently needed food, water, clothing and medical supplies. For the long-term, they'll partner with Habitat for Humanity once rebuilding can start.

Donations can be made through the "You Caring" website. As a certified B-Corporation with a focus on helping people faced with hardship, YouCaring doesn't take a cut of each donation, instead relying on voluntary donor tips to fund operations.

Unidos

The Hispanic Federation and Coalition of Community Organizations and Elected Officials have launched, “Unidos,” a hurricane relief fund for Hurricane Maria victims in Puerto Rico.